Panel assembly



March 6, 1962 J. P. MOORE 3,023,866

PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed April 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. 3 JAMESP. MOORE ATTORNEYS.

March 6, 1962 J. P. MOORE 3,023,866

PANEL ASSEMBLY Filed April 20, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. JAMES PMOORE BY W Z W ATTORNEYS 3,023,866 PANEL ASSEMBLY James P. Moore, 41%Davis St, St. Louis 23, Mo. Filed Apr. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 23,534 5Claims. (Cl. 18988) The present invention relates to a panel assemblyfor the construction of a ceiling or wall surface, and more particularlyinvolves a panel assembly that comprises a plurality of panels, each ofwhich is separately mountable and replaceable, and thus, when mounted,will remain steadily fixed in place, but which can be readily removedupon the application of strategic forces.

The panels are adapted to be mounted to a plurality of parallel beams,each of the beams having generally horizontal flanges depending axiallyfrom each of its sides. The panel includes flanges for retaining a pairof hooks that are constructed of spring material, and the hooks areadapted to be wedged between opposing flanges of adjacent beams. Thehooks are located generally toward one end of each panel, and theopposite end of that panel has a flange that overlies the adjacentpanel. Thus, each panel is held in place by an adjacent panel and by thehooks.

The hooks have been found to retain the panels in such a way thatvibrational and other normally encountered loads will not affect theirretainment. However, the clips are replaceable on each panel so that,should they become bent or lose their resiliency, their replacement isreadily facilitated. I

Accordingly, it is a principal object of the invention to provide apanel assembly in which each of the panels is separately removable fromthe assembly.

Another object of the invention is to provide a panel assembly havingindividual panels, with each panel having its own means for attachingthat panel to a mounting surface. A subsidiary, but important, object isto provide each panel with retaining means that are removable andreplaceable from the panel.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a panel assemblyhaving means for attaching a plurality of panels to a mounting surfacein which the means provide a rigid securement of each panel to thesurface.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a panel assemblythat is adapted to be mounted in spaced relationship to a mountingsurface so that acoustical material may be applied between the panelassembly and the mounting surface.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent to those skilledin the art.

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the invention, partly in section,showin an assembly of six panels mounted to a ceiling;

FIGURE 2 is a view in section taken along the lines 22 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a view in section taken along the lines 3-3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view showing the top side of a single panelwith one retaining clip removed; and

FIGURE 5 is a partial perspective view of the leading edge of a panelthat is adapted to be mounted adjacent a transverse surface.

Referring now to the drawings, a typical ceiling is designated by thenumeral 10. There are a plurality of I-beams 11, 12, and 13 attached byconventional clips 14 and screws 15 to the ceiling 10. It is to be notedthat the I-beams 11, 12 and 13 are shown by way of example, and thatother forms may be employed, such as V-beams, H-beams, or the like.Those skilled in the art are aware of the various ways in which theseother types of beams might be fastened to a ceiling surface 10.

EfiiZiSfifl Patented Mar. 6, 1962 Regardless of what type of beam 11, 12or 13 is used, it should have horizontal flanges 16 and 17 or similarprojections depending transversely from either side of the beam so as topresent longitudinal edges 18 and 19.

The spacing of the beams l1, l2 and 13 should be such that the distancebetween opposing flange edges 18 and 19 (for example, the flange 17 ofbeam 11 and the flange 16 of beam 12) will cooperate with the clips tohold the panels as will be described.

A separate panel 21 is illustrated in FIGURE 4. This panel includes abottom plate 22 that is preferably flat, although it may have adifferent shape if desired. The plate 22 is also preferably ofrectangular shape, and may have various designs of perforations oretchings on it. The panel 21 is formed of a flat plate that is bent in aparticular manner. Thus, opposite parallel edges 23 and 24 are formed byupturned flanges, and depending inwardly from the upturned flanges 23and 24 are flanges 25 and 26 that are spaced from the bottom 22 andgenerally parallel to it. Projecting upwardly from each of the inturnedflanges 25 and 26 are a pair of guide tabs 27 and 2 8. The guide tabs 27and 28 are such that they will rest against the aforementioned opposedflange edges 18 and 19 of adjacent beams 11 and 12.

One end 30 of the panel 21 has its edge defined by an upturned flange31, and there is an outwardly projecting flange 32 depending from theflange 31. The flange 32 is parallel to the bottom 22 of the panel 21and is somewhat narrowerthan the distance between the edges 23 and 24.

The end 35 opposite the end 30 also is defined by an upturned flange 35depending from the bottom plate 22. There is an inturned flange 37 aboveand parallel to the bottom 22, and the top surface of the flange 37 isabout the same distance from the bottom 22 as the bottom surface of theflange 32. The flanges 37 and 32 are also approximately the same width.

Outwardly from the flange 37 are a pair of tabs 38 and 39, each having adownwardly extending portion 40 and an inwardly extending portion 41.The inwardly extending portions 41 are parallel to the plate 22 andspaced therefrom a slight distance.

A pair of clips 42 and 43 are adapted to be retained beneath the tabs 38and 39. Accordingly, each clip 42 has a 'flat base 44 with upwardlydepending hooks 45 and 46 at its end. The hook 45 has an inwardlydepending portion 47 joined to an outwardly depending portion 48 by abend 49. The hook 46 has an inwardly depending portion 54} joined to anoutwardly depending portion 51 by a bend or crease 52, and the portion51 is joined to an inwardly depending portion 53 by a bend 54.

Each of the clips is adapted to be placed with the body 44 between theportion 41 of a tab 38 or 39 and the bottom 22, with the hook portions45 and 46 wedged between the sides of the flange 37 and the edges of aflange 25 or 26. One of the clips is shown in position in FIG- URE 4. Ascan be seen, the edges of the flanges 26 and 37 engage respectively, thecreases 52 and 49. To remove the clip 43, it need only he slid away fromthe tab 39 and lifted away from the panel 21.

FIGURE 5 shows the arrangement of a panel that is to be used adjacent awall. embodiment, prime numbers are used to correspond to the numbersused in the description of the panel of FIGURE 4. Thus, the panel 21 hasedge flanges 23' and 24, and these edge flanges have inturned flanges 25and 26'. It is only the forward end 30 of the panel that diflers fromthe previously described panel. This embodiment eliminates the flange31, but has a taller upstanding flange so.

In the description of this.

, nation of the panels.

In the use of the panel structure, the panel 22' is first slid withinthe channel 61, so that the leg 52 supports the leading end of the panel22' with the flange 60 resting against the channel 61. Then the clips42' and 43' are snapped between the edges18 and 19 of adjacent beamssuch as the beams 11 and 12. The panel 21' is then in position, and"successive panels may be added. Each of the successivepanels isattached separately by fitting its flange 32 above the flange 37 of thenext preceding channel and then pivoting the panel upwardly until theclips 53 snap into place. The guide tabs 27 and 28 will abut the beams11 and 12 and preclude transverse sliding of the panel. A

Each panel is separately removable from the installation. A convenientmeans for such removal involves the insertion of a wire hook, or thelike, through the panel to be removed and exerting a downward pull. Forthose panels that have perforations through them, the wire hook may bepassed through one of the perforations near the clips 42 and 43. Panelswithout perforations through them niay be provided with a small holebetween theclips 42 and 43 to receive the wire hook. Such holes wouldnot ordinarily be visible except upon close exami- Sound absorbingmaterial or insulating material may be placed between the panels and theceiling and between adjacent beams. The panel arrangement of the presentinvention is more thansufficiently strong to support such material. Infact, the clips arehorizontal to retain up to five times'or more ofthe'combined weight of the panels and the sound absorbing or insulatingmaterial.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description limited only bythe claims which follow.

What is claimed is: 1. A panel assembly comprising a rectangular plate,

a border perpendicular to the plate depending from each edge of theplate, an outwardly projecting flange depending from one border foroverlying the border of an adjacent plate and inwardly projectingflanges depending from the edges adjacent the one having the outwardlyprojecting flange, and aplipflremovably attached to each gfthe inwardlydepeiiding flanges for resiliently fastening t e "'--2 ;-Thepanehassembly of claim 1 wherein the clips are positioned toward theedge opposite the one having the outwardly projecting flange.

3. A panel comprising a plate having parallel side edges and parallelfront and rear edges, a flange spaced above the panel and supported bythe panel adjacent the rear edge thereof for overlying the front edge ofa similar panel, a pair of clips removably attached to the panel againstthe side edges thereof, the clips projecting above and inwardly of theside edges for clamping the panel to a pair of beams, and guide meansdepending upwardly and inwardly from the side edges of the panel forpositioning the panel in relation to the beams.

4. A rectangular surface panel comprising a plate having a bottomsurface, inturned flanges parallel to and spaced above the bottomsurface being attached to a pair of opposed edges of the bottom surface,an outturned flange 'aboveand parallel to thebottom surface and attachedto one of the remaining edges, 2. clip retaining means dependingfrom theother remaining edge, and clip means 'releasably retained by theretaining means for snapping the panel to a mounting surface.

- 5. The panel of claim 4 wherein the retaining means includes a pair oftabs depending inwardly from the other remaining edge and a flange aboveand between the tabs, and the clip means includes a pair of clips eachhaving a portion adapted to l placed between a tab and the bottomsurface, and a pair of upstanding hook members adapted to be wedgedbetween an inturned flange and the inwardly depending flange, the'outturned hooks projecting' above the flanges for resilient engagementwith the mounting surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,861,615 f 'x'enzie June 7, 1932 1,998,423 Stubbs Apr. 16, 19352,153,320 Venzie Apr. 4, 1939

